I need feminism

So I didn't write anything in March. Cry cry. But here is a thing!

Feminism. It's become a bit of a big deal in the last few years. Kate Nash, Joseph-Gordon Levitt,  and Emma Watson (amongst many, many others!) have all done cool things in the name of gender equality and one could argue that the cause is finally getting the limelight it deserves. There's a lot I could say about the great leaps feminism has made, and the exciting projects taking place in its name at the moment, but I won't, because that's a story for another day. But what I will say is that no matter how far it has come, or how far it has yet to go, I NEED FEMINISM.

I have a pinterest account (link is on the left...) and one of my many boards is dedicated to feminism. When browsing quotes, photos, videos and articles of this theme, I have noticed a trend  - the 'I need feminism because...' white boards. 

'I need feminism because...'
(click on image to enlarge)

I think these are a cool way of spreading the message with a personal touch, but unfortunately these exist too:

'I don't need feminism because...'
(click on image to enlarge)

There appear to be two predominant themes here - 

1) a misunderstanding of what feminism is

2) a belief that it was all well and good once upon a time but it's not needed anymore

Now I'm all for expressing opinions and raising discussions, I mean that's what I'm doing right now, and I'm totally grateful, especially in light of recent events, that I live in a society where these people and I can make our voices heard/messages read without fear.
However, I personally believe that each of these statements, as comments against feminism, are fundamentally flawed. 

 1 - That is a gross generalisation of feminists 

        You do not need to identify as a victim to recognise the gender gap
        Women in western society may not be oppressed like the women of Afghanistan, Mali and Iraq (to name but a few countries) but that does not mean we don't need feminism. We need it because of what it has done for us and for what it can do for the women who are in undeniable and harrowing need right now!
        Moreover, why are so many people so scared to advance? Like, yeah we can show more than our ankles in public, yeah we can divorce our husbands without being shunned, yeah we can vote and lots of other good stuff, but what about going even further? Like abolishing the pink tax? Why stop now?

   2 - If you want the recognition you deserve as an entrepreneur (instead of being labelled 'female entrepreneur') it is FEMINISM that is championing that recognition! You're looking for gender equality; you're looking for feminism.

   3 - To empower women means to strengthen and build upon what they already have and encourage those who may not have realised what it is they have! Women are not weak and that is precisely the foundation that feminism stands on; the genders are equal and deserve equal rights. 

It saddens me when I hear people saying they 'don't need feminism' because apparently its goals have already been accomplished. I don't believe that just because attitudes have advanced and laws have been passed, the need for gender equality is any less. It is exercised more actively, and we can appreciate it in action, but that doesn’t mean we could live happy lives without it. Surely being able to see how much it improves society proves how much we all need feminism?

I live in a world that Emily Davison dreamed of, but I need feminism just as much as she did. 

The Envy By-Product

A few weeks ago I was struck by a thought. The following word splurge is that thought.

To set the scene, I was in an art lesson. I had my earphones in and was listening to some depressing 'alternative' album, and was painting. I was swirling some red oil paint off the end of my paintbrush and onto the blush of my mother's paper cheek, when I thought 'my art skills have improved a lot since I started Art GCSE'. A trivial brain wave, granted. Then it developed. 'I'm as adequate at art now as the people I was envious of a few years ago'. 

Anecdote paused.

Now for a brief interlude...

Envious is not a good thing to be, I think everyone can agree with that. It defaces your self-worth, ruins your judgement, and can upset relationships. Unfortunately, we can't always help the emergence of this emotion. I for one get very envious very easily. Let me demonstrate with a few examples.

A girl's hair falls perfectly adorably without any styling? ENVIOUS
Amazing singer sings amazingly without even trying? ENVIOUS
Just spotted the most beautiful, happy & loving relationship? ENVIOUS
Friend looks stunning without makeup? ENVIOUS
Amazing actor reads script aloud for first time and reduces room to tears? ENVIOUS *

*This I am yet to witness, but if I did, I'm sure I would be very envious of the actor's talent.

So you get the picture. I get very envious. Sometimes it's only a little itch and easy to bat aside. But sometimes it's really heavy and makes me cry, which is rather rubbish. 

Anecdote continued.

'I'm as adequate at art now as the people I was envious of a few years ago'. In Year 7/8/9 I would look at the A Level art work on the walls at school and would feel so conflicted. Half of me was mesmerised by the standard displayed, and in awe of it's beauty etc, but then half of me was confused and frustrated. I would be frustrated because I couldn't understand how it had been made. HOW did they know how to paint the shadow? HOW did they know what shades of green and blue to include in the skin tone? HOW did they get the proportions so accurate? HOW HOW HOW??? You see, as much as I am a creative, free spirited individual, there is a large part of me that screams for everything to be rationalised and explained. Yeah, things can be weird and unorthodox and raise questions, and I love being able to explore interpretations and say 'there is no right answer' but I'm always most comfortable when after all the discussions, there actually is a final answer, whether I agree with it or not. I couldn't understand how these artists work could be a result of just knowing. But yeah, that's a tangent. The point is, I remember a time when I was baffled, and very ******envious****** (KEY word here) of older student's artwork. Now, at the grand old age of seventeen, I know (sort of) how to paint shadows, am confident to include shades of green and blue tastefully in skin tones, and can draw with correct proportions. (With the help of my trusty friend the OHP...) But I'm not announcing this as a form of artistic milestone or call for affirmation, no! I am telling this story because the improvement in my artwork, I believe, has a lot to do with, besides growing older and continued practise (okay I sound like a right idiot now) my envy. OKAY BARE WITH ME. I was envious of other people's work and this drove me to improve. I was determined to reach the standard that I desired. 

Anecdote complete.

If my claim is correct, then envy is not always such a bad thing. Captured and channeled in the right direction, it can motivate us to improve ourselves. And I wholeheartedly advocate healthy self-improvement. 

However, as with all good things, there is a limit to this belief. Envy over other people's physical appearances or circumstances is futile. As much as you may desire a smaller forehead, bigger chest, or smoother skin (all insecurities of my own!) you will never have any power to change this, obviously. But you DO have the power to improve in your skills, achieve academic/occupational/financial goals, make someone happy, be spontaneous and  make a change in the world! (Just to name a few.) 

So I actively encourage you, reader, to have a long hard think about what makes you envious. Then think, is there anything I can do to achieve this?
If yes - go freaking get it  and stop feeling so resentful!
If no - forget it, and embrace what you have. Flaunt what you have even if it seems frightfully unattractive in your eyes. If you air your scarred skin/dysfunctional family/lack of money in public enough, it'll be loved in time.

Start as you mean to go on

I have developed a habit, and I know I'm not alone in this, of entering the new year with the words "this year I will...". And I'll be lying. Every time. But this, I realise now in my new-year wisdom, is because I have fallen victim to pledging new years resolutions purely out of social pressure. And under pressure is no place to make a pledge. Especially to oneself. But this year, and I apologise for the impending cliche; it's going to be different. I'm starting 2015 with strong, whole-hearted intentions and I am determined to see at least one of them through to 2016 and beyond.

2014 was a year in which all my previous behind-the-scenes flaws found their way to centre-stage, if you will (wow nice theatre analogies Rosemary). And by this I mean, for example, I have always had a problem with timekeeping but it's never been too obvious or inconvenient in the past, but somehow in 2014 I managed to be late to almost every single engagement. And let me tell you, being the one that's always late is not fun. This is the same for procrastination, sleeping patterns, you name it...I kind of just stopped looking after myself this year. But that was okay, because as I like to say (to shift the guilt of being an awful human slightly off my shoulders) you live and learn. 

And so begin my new year resolutions...

~

This year I am going to:

• Aim to be early for things 
  even the little things 

• Drink lots (and lots and lots and lots) of water
  Because that comes with all sorts of health bonuses yay for vitality

• Wear minimal makeup for normal days, preferably none, and save the products for special days

• Go swimming more!
  When I was younger, swimming was my absolute most favourite thing...I was such a water baby, and having not swam publicly for over two and a half years I really miss it :( I am even lucky enough to have an amazing new swimming pool only down the road from me, but swimming is a bit of a daunting prospect when it's lifeguarded by boys my age and all swimming costumes seem to be hideously unflattering on my body...but alas, that doesn't matter, because this year I am going to go swimming :)  

• Go running...and walking...and cycling
  I'm really unfit. Depressingly unfit. I need to do something about it, and to be honest, if I actually tried, I think I'd enjoy exercise

• Go to bed earlier (zzz)
  This will be painfully difficult, but hopefully worth it

• Read more! (books are cool)
  It's about time I fulfilled the stereotype associated with my taste in spectacles

• Doodle and sketch for fun 
  Art lessons should not be the only time I produce art!

• Be >unapologetically< honest
  I am (metaphorically) waving farewell to endless ambiguity and tiptoeing around the edges of awkward social interaction for the sake of political correctness. I avoided confronting a lot of things I probably ought to have done this year for fear of making people uncomfortable and it wasted a lot of time and emotions, so I've decided to draw a line (again, metaphorically). Here's to speaking ones mind and dealing with things head on! Also under the theme of being honest...I need to stop lying, because I'm too easily tempted into saying "I've just left" when I'm packing my bag, and "I'm doing my English coursework" when I've just paused a film...

• Make schedules (and STICK TO THEM) 
  How many time Rosemary? Being spontaneous doesn't work when you're an airhead

• Be kind

~

And so, that summarises my personal resolutions for 2015...it's the thought that counts, right?

And dear reader, I hope you too will take a moment, if you haven't already, to ponder upon what changes you'd like to make in the name of a new year. Granted, the ideal of #newyearnewme is cringey, but there's nothing wrong with allowing yourself to start afresh and trying to be a better you.

Start as you mean to go on.